Danielle Levine
M.Ed. Elementary Education, American College of Education
IMPORTANT SKILLS I WANT TO TEACH MY STUDENTS
I am most passionate about guiding my fifth grade students to discover their love for language arts. Helping students find books that best fit their interests is one of my favorite aspects of teaching. I also enjoy helping students transition from persuasive writing to argumentative writing, which is more evidence based.
TEACHING METHODS TO REACH THESE GOALS
In fifth grade language arts, we use a variety of materials to accomplish our learning objectives. During the year we try to push our students to work cooperatively with others, and students are given more choice opportunities through participation in Book Clubs. The Teachers College Units of Study for Reading and Writing provide the students with learning opportunities that challenge them and encourage them to think critically about literature.
MY FAVORITE PROJECTS
We do a lot of amazing projects in fifth grade, but my all-time favorite activity has to be the Greek Mythology Hall of Fame. This project has a research component and a presentation component. Students ultimately give speeches in the guise of a famous Greek deity, hero, or monster, and they dress up as their character. The most compelling speech gets that character elected into the Greek Mythology Hall of Fame. In addition, a highlight to the fifth grade experience is our trip to Dearborn, Michigan.
WHAT I LIKE BEST ABOUT TEACHING AT SEVEN HILLS
Seven Hills is an incredible place to work. The Lotspeich staff, our students, and the community all are wonderful. I have over 20 years of teaching experience, and I can honestly say that I love coming to work every day.